Modification of attentional bias and reduced craving from combined mindfulness+tDCS therapy in methamphetamine addiction: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled, Single-Blinded Clinical Trial

Although clinical findings support the significant effects of mindfulness and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on various disorders, especially Substance Use Disorder (SUD), their combined effect on methamphetamine addiction has not been investigated yet. This study examined the hypothesis of the combined effect of mindfulness+tDCS therapy on Attentional Bias (AB) towards drug-related stimuli and craving in adolescents with methamphetamine addiction. A total of ۶۰ adolescents, with methamphetamine addiction were randomly assigned to the research groups, ۲۰ people in each group with aged between ۱۸ and ۲۱ (mindfulness group, combined mindfulness + tDCS group, and sham group). The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was stimulated with at DCS device with an intensity of ۱.۵ mA for ۱۲ sessions of ۲۰ minutes, and for psychological intervention the ۱۲ sessions of ۵۰ minutes mindfulness-based substance abuse treatment (MBSAT) was trained (۲ sessions per week). AB and craving were measured before the intervention, after the ۱۲ sessions and at one-month follow-up. The results showed that the combined mindfulness-tDCS therapy group was more effective in the modification of AB towards drug-related stimuli in ۲۰۰ ms and ۵۰۰ ms and craving. It was also observed that there is a significant relationship between attention bias and reduction in craving.The findings supported the increased effectiveness of tDCS combined with psychological intervention in the modification of AB towards drug-related stimuli and craving in adolescents with methamphetamine addiction.

کلیدواژه ها:

Attentional bias ، tDCS ، mindfulness ، Substance Use Disorder ، adolescents